Calabrian haute couture around the world, between tradition and innovation

The influences that come from Magna Graecia, the inspiration drawn from traditional clothing and the costumes of ethnic minorities, handed down as a precious legacy.

The textile tradition is the basis of the narrative that links Calabria to the world of high fashion. Precious and timeless raw materials - from silk to broom - and craftsmanship, yarns and embroidery represent the heritage that makes every idea that takes shape with needle and thread unique.

Sartorial quality combined with creativity: Calabrian haute couture in the world combines tradition and innovation and is a multi-voiced success story that brings the excellence of Made in the South to the fore.

The thread that connects Calabria to the world of fashion brings together the tradition of textile craftsmanship, the roots of this region's identity, and the innovations, creativity, and stylistic visions of professionals in the sector who aim for the most important catwalks while maintaining a strong connection to their homeland. The connection between Calabria and high fashion certainly has a starting point and a name: Gianni Versace, a legend of unsurpassed creative power, the designer who made Magna Graecia volutes and capitals iconic. The genius who continues to inspire generations of designers. Every dress he created is a cult object.

The art of Magna Graecia, the perfection of the Riace Bronzes, the charm of traditional craftsmanship, the colours of the Mediterranean: Calabria was an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Gianni Versace, nourishing his creativity and leaving a mark on his personality. Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria on 2 December 1946 and began his career in the family tailor's shop in the city on the Strait. His mother was a seamstress and her workshop was a fundamental place in the formation of little Gianni. He loved to draw and had ambitious plans, so in 1972, at the age of 25, he moved from the intimate setting of the family tailor's shop to Milan, where he soon began working as a clothing designer. A few years later, in 1978, he presented his first collection. From then on, he enjoyed one success after another: everyone sought him out and acclaimed him, and Gianni Versace entered the fashion elite. He collaborated with the most famous photographers, and the highest-paid supermodels, from Claudia Schiffer to Naomi Campbell, modelled for him. Madonna was the face of his advertising campaigns, and he was friends with celebrities such as Elton John and Lady Diana. He was on holiday at his home in Miami with his partner when, on 15 July 1997, at the age of 50, he was killed by a madman who fired two shots after breaking into the garden. The world's jet set attended his funeral. The Versace brand did not die with him, but passed into the hands of his sister Donatella, with whom Gianni shared his vision for the company as well as his flair and genius, and who has been able to keep the name of the fashion house alive, keeping her brother's dream alive. There is a quote from an interview given in 1992 that, more than anything else, clarifies the link between Versace and his homeland: "Reggio is the kingdom where the fairy tale of my life began: my mother's dressmaking shop, the haute couture boutique, the place where, as a child, I began to appreciate the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid, where I began to breathe the art of Magna Graecia".

Some have called him Gianni Versace's heir, due to their shared vision of elegance and the celebration of feminine beauty. What is certain is that Anton Giulio Grande, inspired by the same sources that fuelled the creativity of the Reggio-born designer, has brought Calabrian haute couture to international catwalks, combining sartorial tradition, craftsmanship and creative innovation. Anton Giulio Grande is now one of the favourite designers of television and film stars. Born in Lamezia Terme, he began his artistic and professional career by founding his eponymous fashion house at the age of just 20. He trained at the Polimoda Fashion University in Florence and later at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. These prestigious institutions allowed him to work for an iconic Italian fashion brand: the Fontana sisters. In 1995, Grande launched his first signature collection. He is characterised by his choice to design clothes that embody elegance and luxury, spectacle and sensuality. He dresses women in show business such as Elenoire Casalegno, Sabrina Ferilli, Anna Falchi, Alba Parietti, Valeria Marini, Nina Moric, Manuela Arcuri and Belen Rodriguez. His creations are also in demand in television dramas and theatre, where he created the costumes for the Italian version of the musical Moulin Rouge. Among the many awards he has received are the prize for best student at Polimoda and the European Oscar for promoting Made in Italy in Italy and around the world through the value and prestige of his work. He currently holds the position of president of the Calabria Film Commission, but at Milan Fashion Week he has just presented his new collection inspired by one of the most fascinating female figures of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo.

Maison Celestino, a brand founded in Calabria in the early 20th century, also has a history of traditions linked to the territory. It is a symbol of Italian excellence that uses ancient looms and natural fibres such as linen, hemp and broom. Its story begins in Rossano and reaches the catwalks of Paris. In the 1950s, founder Eugenio Celestino dressed European royal families and stars such as Ava Gardner. Now run by Caterina Celestino, Eugenio's granddaughter, the fashion house is known for its hand-loom weaving. The brand's logo features a stork, a symbol that once again refers to Calabria: the white stork that nests in the Sibaritide area.

Very young but talented and determined, Francesca Russo is a young Calabrian designer from Santa Maria del Cedro who brought designs dedicated to the ancient religious traditions of her homeland to the haute couture catwalk of the Accademia Maiani in Rome (one of the most prestigious in the capital, where she attended the Fashion and Design course). Her creations blend tradition and craftsmanship with an eye towards distant markets, such as the Arab one.

The tailor's shop that produces some of the best Italian ties, chosen by politicians, journalists and celebrities, has Calabrian origins. The centuries-old history of Calabrian textile art is reflected in the products of the Talarico company. Ties cut and sewn by hand one by one, using fine silks. A manufacturing process that makes these accessories truly unique. Entrepreneur Maurizio Talarico left Catanzaro to pursue a dream that became reality in just a few years. Talarico ties have become a symbol of elegance and luxury, sold in London and Tokyo. The company, which has one of its stores in Rome and manufactures in three Italian regions, is expanding its range and, in addition to ties, also produces scarves and sarongs for women.